Luis Suárez, known for his elegant and graceful style of play, was a highly esteemed Spanish footballer and manager. Throughout his career, he showcased his midfield skills for renowned clubs such as Deportivo de La Coruña, España Industrial, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Sampdoria, as well as the Spain national team. Widely recognized as one of the greatest Spanish football players in history, Suárez left an indelible mark on the sport.
Bio/Wiki
Age-88years
Height- 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Born- 2 May 1935
Birthplace- A Coruña, Galicia, Spain
Date of death-9 July 2023 (aged 88)
Place of death-Milan, Lombardy, Italy
Profession- Spanish footballer and manager
Nationality-Spanish
Full name-Luis Suárez Miramontes
Position(s)-Inside right, attacking midfielder
Career
Early Career
Luis Suárez Miramontes, born on 2 May 1935 in A Coruña, Galicia, resided on Avenida de Hércules in the working-class neighborhood of Monte Alto, where he was affectionately known as Luisito. His football journey began with the local team Deportivo de La Coruña in 1949. He gradually progressed through the junior ranks and made his debut in La Liga on 6 December 1953, when Deportivo suffered a 6-1 loss to FC Barcelona. During his time at Deportivo, he played alongside notable players like Pahiño and Arsenio Iglesias, participating in 17 matches and scoring 3 goals for the team in that season. In 1954, he was transferred to FC Barcelona; however, he predominantly featured for their reserve team, España Industrial, in the second division throughout the 1954-55 season.
Barcelona
Suárez enjoyed a regular position in FC Barcelona’s team between 1955 and 1961, alongside notable players such as Ladislao Kubala, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, Ramallets, and Evaristo. Under the guidance of coach Helenio Herrera, both the team and Suárez achieved significant victories, securing a league-cup double in 1959 and a league-Fairs Cup double the following year. In recognition of his exceptional performances, Suárez became the first and, as of today, the only Spanish-born football player to win the Ballon d’Or in 1960, surpassing Real Madrid’s Ferenc Puskás. One of his memorable moments with the club was the European Cup final in 1961, where they unfortunately lost 3-2 to Benfica. Throughout his time at Barcelona, Suárez impressively scored 141 goals in 253 matches.
Inter Milan
In 1961, Luis Suárez, the Spanish footballer, became the world’s most expensive player and made history as the first player to be transferred for £100,000. FC Barcelona sold him to Inter Milan for
fee of 250 million Italian Lire, which was equivalent to £142,000 at that time. Suárez’s move to Inter Milan allowed him to join his mentor, Helenio Herrera, who was the coach of the team.
Suárez, along with Juan Santisteban, became the first Spanish player to compete in Serie A, the top Italian football league. He quickly established himself as a regular player in Herrera’s Grande Inter team, which achieved great success during that period. With Suárez’s contribution, Inter Milan won three Serie A titles, two consecutive European Cups, and two Intercontinental Cups.
During his time at Inter Milan from 1961 to 1970, Suárez made 328 appearances for the club and scored 55 goals. One notable performance was on 10 March 1963 when he scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 victory over Genoa. This hat-trick marked the only instance of a Spanish player scoring three goals in a single match in Serie A until Suso achieved the same feat for Genoa in 2016. Suárez congratulated Suso for breaking his record.
Luis Suárez retired from professional football in 1973, concluding a successful and influential career in the sport.
International Career
Suárez, in addition to his remarkable club career, showcased his talents on the international stage for Spain. Throughout his national team journey, he participated in 32 matches and secured fourteen goals. He marked his debut on 30 January 1957, contributing to a 5-1 victory against the Netherlands. Suárez proudly represented Spain in the 1962 and 1966 FIFA World Cups. However, his most significant achievement with the Spanish team transpired in 1964 when he played a vital role, alongside Josep Maria Fusté, Amancio Amaro, José Ángel Iribar, and Chus Pereda, in securing the European Championship title. Suárez bid farewell to his international career in 1972 after his final match for Spain.
Achievement /Awards
Barcelona Achievements:
- La Liga titles: 1958-59, 1959-60
- Copa del Generalísimo titles: 1957, 1958-59
- Inter-Cities Fairs Cup titles: 1955-58, 1958-60
Inter Milan Achievements:
- Serie A titles: 1962-63, 1964-65, 1965-66
- European Cup titles: 1963-64, 1964-65
- Intercontinental Cup titles: 1964, 1965
Spain Achievements:
- European Nations’ Cup title: 1964
Individual Achievements:
- Ballon d’Or: 1960
- Silver Ball: 1961, 1964
- Bronze Ball: 1965
Eric Batty’s World XI: 1963, 1964, 1965
- UEFA European Championship Team of the Tournament: 1964
- Golden Foot: 2008, as football legend
- Marca Leyenda: 2016
Orders:
- Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit: 2001
Net Worth 2023
Luis Suarez Miramontes, a legendary soccer player, possesses a net worth of $1.6 million.
Cause Of Death
Luis Suárez, the legendary striker from Spain who was the sole recipient of the Ballon d’Or award, has passed away at the age of 88.
On Sunday, the football world mourned the loss of Luis Suarez, a former midfielder for Barcelona and Inter Milan. He was a remarkable player, being the sole male footballer born in Spain to ever win the prestigious Ballon d’Or. Suarez’s triumph came in 1960, marking a significant milestone as the first player from Spain to claim this accolade. In addition to his achievements on the field, he later served as the coach for the Spanish national team during the 1990 World Cup.
Suarez’s talents were not limited to Spain alone, as he also earned great admiration in Italy. He became one of Inter Milan’s most revered midfielders during the 1960s under the guidance of coach Helenio Herrera. The news of his passing evoked a profound sense of melancholy, leaving behind memories of his flawless and unmatched style of play. His footballing prowess served as an inspiration for numerous generations.
Born in La Coruna in 1935, Luis Suarez began his professional career with Deportivo La Coruna before joining Barcelona in 1954. During his tenure with the Catalan club, he secured two La Liga titles and various other honors, ultimately leading to his Ballon d’Or triumph. It is worth noting that the only other Spanish-born player to claim the Ballon d’Or is Barcelona midfielder Alexia Putellas, who has won the women’s award on two occasions.
While it is true that Alfredo Di Stefano, who played for Argentina before representing the Spanish national team, won the Ballon d’Or twice, he was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Therefore, Luis Suarez remains the sole male footballer born in Spain to have ever received this prestigious accolade